ROUNDUP: N.H.L.

ROUNDUP: N.H.L.; Avalanche Loses Its Game, And Perhaps Kariya, Too

Published: April 5, 2004

The Colorado Avalanche may have lost more than its regular-season finale yesterday.

Forward Paul Kariya twisted his right ankle with 2 minutes 21 seconds remaining in the third period of a 2-1 overtime home loss to the Nashville Predators. He could miss the Avalanche's Western Conference first-round playoff opener at home against Dallas on Wednesday.

''Obviously, this game didn't really mean anything,'' Colorado's Teemu Selanne said. ''Bad things happen sometimes, and we just have to hope that it's not something bad and he can come back. Now is a very important time of the year. You would like to see everybody healthy.''

Despite outshooting Nashville, 39-22, Colorado gave up the tying goal by Scott Hartnell with 10:31 left in regulation.

David Legwand scored the winner 32 seconds into overtime.

''There's no time to think negatively,'' the Avalanche's Adam Foote said. ''You've got to be positive and go from here. It's a new season, and we'll take it from here.''

Chris Mason stopped 38 shots for the Predators, who clinched the first playoff berth in their six-year history when Vancouver beat Edmonton on Saturday night. Eighth-seeded Nashville meets Detroit in the first round.

''Yesterday was one of the longest days, waiting for the outcome of the game between Vancouver and Edmonton,'' Hartnell said. ''It worked out for us. This made it better, closing out the year on a winning note.''

The Flames' Jarome Iginla scored his 41st goal to match Columbus left wing Rick Nash and Atlanta left wing Ilya Kovalchuk for the N.H.L. lead.

Calgary goalie Mikka Kiprusoff was given the day off, leaving him with a 1.69 goals against average in 38 games, a modern-era record. Dallas's Marty Turco set the previous record last season, with a 1.72 in 55 games.

PENGUINS 4, CAPITALS 3

Lasse Pirjeta scored two goals and host Pittsburgh, despite finishing last in the N.H.L. for the first time since 1984, finished its late-season surge by beating Washington.

After losing 18 consecutive games, the Penguins went 12-5-3 -- the greatest turnaround by an N.H.L. team in any season after a streak of 15 games or longer without a victory.

SHARKS 4, KINGS 3

Brad Stuart tied the score with two goals in the final 20 seconds of regulation, and Vincent Damphousse scored with 1:50 left in overtime for host San Jose against Los Angeles.

Stuart's two goals in 17 seconds set a franchise record for the Sharks, who won for the sixth time in seven games in finishing with a franchise-record 104 points.

HURRICANES 6, PANTHERS 6

Brad Fast scored his first N.H.L. goal in his first game with 2:26 left in the third period to help Carolina salvage a tie at Florida after squandering a 4-0 lead.

Roberto Luongo, who set league records for most saves and most shots faced this season, stopped 26 shots for the Panthers.

STARS 5, BLACKHAWKS 2

Marty Turco returned from a four-game suspension for high-sticking and made 24 saves for host Dallas against Chicago.

Shayne Corson had two goals for the Stars, which finished fifth in the Western Conference and will face Colorado in the opening round of the playoffs.

WILD 3, BLUES 0

Marian Gaborik had a goal and Dwayne Roloson got his fifth shutout, leading host Minnesota to a season-ending victory over St. Louis.

The Blues have qualified for the postseason each time since 1980, a 25-year streak that is the longest active run in the United States' four major professional sports.

St. Louis will face the Pacific Division champion San Jose in the first round.

Photo: Ruslan Salei of the Mighty Ducks chasing Shean Donovan of the Flames into the boards during yesterday's Mighty Ducks victory. (Photo by Reuters)